"A large part of a cake's cost depends on how much time it takes to decorate it. The hand-cut chevrons I created for the 'splurge' cake took ages to apply, while the embossed details I used on the 'save' version were comparatively simple. If you're having 100 guests, that tradeoff equals $400 in the bank!"

"To achieve the delicate 3-D sugar anemones on the pricier cake, I had to cut, mold, and carefully attach each petal, a process that can be painstaking! Less-labor-intensive 2-D flowers give a romantic cake a modern vibe—and save a ton of money." —Anne Heap, Pink Cake Box

"A nautical motif doesn't have to be incredibly expensive and over-the-top. Just make a single maritime detail your focal point. Here I used rope, but shells or anchors are cute too. Braiding fondant takes time, so for the 'save' cake, I minimized that and balanced it with clean, preppy stripes and a single sugar peony."

"For the less pricey cake, I used buttercream to create the graphic flower (instead of costlier gum paste). I also frosted the rest of the cake with buttercream. Fondant is a bit more 'perfect,' but it's also higher end and more time-consuming to dye. Plus, most foodies prefer the taste of buttercream."